FYC 3112

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FYC 3112

• Providing Care for Older Family Members

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Why care about caregiving?

• Increased life expectance
• Increase in oldest old
• Increase in dementia
• Serial monogomy
• Sandwich generation

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Who are caregivers?

• Family members provide 80 of care
• ¾ are women
• Average age 60 years
• Care at home
• White caregivers tend to do it alone
• African American caregivers, Hispanic and Asian
  caregivers tend to work with extended family
  members

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Videotape segment on caregiving Growing old in a
New Age, PBS

• What are the stressors in the lives of these
  caregivers?
• What supports to these caregivers use to cope?
• What resources do they have and how do these
  help?
• How do these caregivers seem to feel about their
  role? How does this affect them and their
  families?

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Stressors for caregivers

• Strained family relationships
• Changes in family activities and goals
• Physical aspects of providing care and increased
  tasks (work)
• Increased financial costs
• Special housing needs
• Social isolation
• Medical concerns and conditions

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Caregiver burden

• The extent to which caregivers perceive
  themselves as suffering as a result of caring for
  their relative
• Sufferingemotional or physical health, social
  life, financial status
• Emotional health
• Physical health

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High risk caregivers are those who

• Dealing with impaired/demented
• View the situation as stressful
• Wives
• Find little gratification in caregiving role
• Feel life was disrupted
• Are isolated
• Use negative coping strategies

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What supports do these caregivers use?

• Family members
• Adult day care
• In home care
• Time away

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Coping with elder caregiving

• Confidence in solving problems
• Reframing the problem
• Spiritual support
• Reliance on extended family

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Ways for caregivers to cope

• 1. Support groups
• 2. Respite services

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Balancing work and caregiving

• Find out your companys policy on caregiving
• Check out EAP
• Ask human resources/personnel for information on
  FMLA
• Ask for flex-time
• Be flexible
• Consider job sharing

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Balancing

• Avoid mixing work with caregiving
• Manage time well
• Set priorities
• Delegate
• Pace yourself
• Get support
• Take care of yourself
• Talk to your supervisor
• Thank those who help you

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Area Agency on Aging

• Federally mandated program
• Florida Department of Elder Affairs
• 11 regional agencies
• Funding from U.S. and state initiatives

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Area Agency on Aging Assumes...

• Older adults want to stay in their own homes
• Older adults have a right to age with dignity and
  independence
• Family members provide care
• Everyone will face these challenges

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Area Agency on Aging Purpose and Goals

• AAA coordinates programs, makes services
  available--to help elderly live independently.
• Goal--to provide services
• to enhance the quality of life for elder and her/
  his family
• and to protect the elder from abuse

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Area Agency on Aging Services

• Congregate and home delivered meals
• Senior Center activities
• Adult Day Care
• Case management
• Transportation
• Homemaker services
• Respite and personal care

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Area Agency on Aging Services

• Legal assistance
• Emergency home repair
• Information and referral
• 1-800-262-2243